ROD

Once a BB boy, Always a BB boy.

To the primers of 07-08:

I didn't feel like sending out a mass e-mail after Wesley and Fab cause it would seem just so cheesy XD but still, I feel that I have to say something about my brothers who have been beside me for the past few years.

Four years of fall-in, four years of hiking, four years of camp, four years of drill, four years of punishment, four years of playing. I don't know how it happened primers, but from someone who disliked BB, I became one who actually enjoyed the times of hardship we spent together. The journey has been long, but you people have seen me through :)

Memories of the past 5-6 years suddenly flooded my mind during the testimonials today in the LT. Some were sweet, some were tough, some were happy, some were sad and and many other mixed feelings filled my heart, but one thing remains sure. All of them memories spoke of how the cohort of 03-06 and primers 07-08 became united with one another. How the closest bonds of friendship were forged. How brotherly love became true to each and every one of us... Up till today, I still have a memory of how I started off in the Boys' Brigade...

Somewhere around mid-year of 2003, I attended my first fall-in/parade in CV clothing when everyone was in their uniform.. I felt really, really lost. My first hike came soon after, coming as a not so pleasant surprise, only to find that it was followed by running to school in the full uniform. For someone who never wore his full uniform before, that wasn't funny at all.

I began to know a few of our cohort members then, started to think BB was a chore to attend, that I shouldn't even have joined some lame UYO... I was introduced to what was known as drill, parades and bible study. My first session was pretty interesting, especially since I was exposed to a Christian environment for 6 years in ACJS and wasn't actually one yet.

Jeremy: So Jack, are you a Christian?
Me: Uhh... I don't know.. half a Christian perhaps?
Jeremy: o.O Umm, you either are, or are not...
Me: Oh.

The 4 years passed by quickly. I didn't like the camps or the hikes and actually disliked BB.. In the first half of being in BB! There was a distinct change in the second half though. In Sec 3, I kind of discovered, hey, BB isn't all too bad after all you know... The years of drill, pushups and change parades were indeed tiring, yes. And as they say, life is unfair. Why does the whole cohort get punished just because ONE person is late? Just because ONE person has improper attire?

But all these did one thing. It united the cohort so closely.. Closer than we ever thought it would. Now, we can come together and joke about the things that have been past. About how we would do hours after hours of drill, how we stayed in push-up position for the longest time ever, how the camp programmes go 12.00 Lights out and 1.00 Defaulters.

It is true primers :) We have gone through all this together. All of you,once strangers to me, are now not only my friends but my brothers. I will forever remember all of you as my comrades who followed me through drill, camps, punishments and all. I just want to say a big thank you to

Adriel - Sergeant Head Prefect lol Suaning aside, you have encouraged me to give my best by just being the example since sec1. My fellow mission trip mate who gave me advice when I really needed it =)

Alex AKA Lua - You're always making sure I was fine every so often and keeping track of my spiritual life

Benedict - For encouraging me through different things and especially so for helping me through the planning of LTC when it was my first time being Logistics IC.

Jian Yang or robot - Your humour and smiles brightens up my day, not just me, but the cohort too! And of course, fellow ranger and DotArd!

Daniel Chng - First time I really talked to you was at some MG concert when you offered me a lift home XD My roommate for 11 days in Khon Kaen!

David Wong/bong - The person who runs from school back home at Tanah Merah. Another ranger+DotArd =D they seem to go together dun they?

Ding - Somehow a comic relief of some sort haha It's been great having you around all the time =)

Emil - My unofficial guitar teacher and one who leads most of the worship sessions for the cohort

Ethan - Known you to be one who takes things really seriously but still, you're always there for a casual chat

Fabriz - Whoo RS ftw! Ok that's like 2 years old. Been great having you by my side for so many years especially as a fellow mission tripper, ranger and Bridge player!

Ian - MAPLE LOL Haha seems most of our convo revolves around stupid things but hey who says that can't form friendships

Jerome - Somehow we became the J&J pair. Shan't argue anymore who is the first J haha but yup, you're always there by my side for all things whether stupid or serious

John Kao - Ok, honestly, I just realised that I didn't exactly talk to you for the past few years.. But that doesn't change the fact that we've gone through everything together in one cohort!

John Tay - Another faithful servant of the Most High. I've been encouraged a lot by your onness for God and you're one of the many spiritual leaders I look up to =)

Kenneth - The guy who looks either really serious or really high =p Been great having you as my mission trip group leader and a fellow primer too!

Kester - Wow, you've ponned 100 parades and you came for ROD. Still, you were there for 4 years! I've known you considerably well too

Yang Jian - The perfect comic relief of all time. You're always there to crack a joke over anything in the world and send laughter ringing through the cohort

Xunliang - Fellow C3 wing I/C haha Colosse ftw! Another of my unofficial guitar teachers and imba DotA player!

Noah - The guy who doesn't eat rice o.O How do you survive, I'll never know. Wake up earlier every Sunday you!

Russell - Our favourite timer ^^ Faithful in service and to his friends

Ryan - The guy who pushes people to not slack and to get things done! At least for the first few years =p

StevenS - Your lameness really removes the dryness in whatever we do. I'll miss your bombastic vocabulary even in simplistic presentations.

Timothy - Another of our common worship leaders. Seen as the "holiest person" and for good reason too =)

Wesley - Our beloved CSM. You have led primers through the 2 years, caring for each and every one of us, being serious when the time calls for it and joking with us during our free time. You've done a fantabulous job really.

Wing Hing/Wings - Another imba DotA player who's always teaming with XL. A really good natured guy who gets along very well with the cohort however new he may have been

Asher & Joshua Cao - The pair of drama people who I hardly see. You two always carry this aura of humour around you and is especially livens up parades

Amanda, Audrey, Christine, Evelyn, Lee Min, Min Kyeong, Petrina - All the girls in BB... Yes it was really weird, but still it has been great going through Primers with the new elements of squeals and giggles o.O

Officers - Almost missed out this. A big thank you to the officers who have sacrificed their time just to guide the primers in the right direction. So much has happened over the years, but to summarise all I have to say, it'll just be thank you.

Yup, I shouldn't have missed any other name.. I got all these names off the attendence list which the Steering Comm mailed out =p

Primers, it's been really great spending the past few years which all of you. Each and every single one of you made this journey as a Primer possible. Primers would never ever be the same if even one person was missing. Another big thank you to all of you for giving me such a great experience in life

From next year, all of us will be going our different routes. Some of us may meet, some may not. Many things will change but our memories as one cohort, as brothers and sisters in Christ never will. May I quote Fabriz in saying "Wars come and go, but Primers stay eternal". We have been united through the trials that we have faced but the unity we have does not end here. Even though we may not be physically with each other, we will forever be "One in vision, one in Christ, for all the world to see".

Once a BB boy primer, ALWAYS a BB boy primer